Thermoplastic roof shingles



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ATTORNEYS Aug. 19., 1969 M. WIENAND ET AL 3,461,628

THERMOPLASTIC ROOF SHINGLES Filed Nov. 25. 1966 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZb2/4 23/3 INVENTORS MICHAEL WIENAND I FRANZ PRIMESSING 8w, wi

ATTORNEYS M. WIENAND E L THBRMOPLASTICROOF SHINGLES Aug. 19., 1969 4Sheets-Sheet. 5

Filed Nov. 25, 1966 FIG4b INVENTORS MICHAEL WIENAND FRANZ PRIMESSING BYp ATTORNEY S Aug. 19., 1969 M. WIENAND ETAL 3,461,623

THERMOPLASTIC ROOF SHINGLES Filed Nov. 25, 1966 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H06FIG? INVENTORS MICHAEL WIENAND FRANZ PRIMESSING olceb ifg United StatesPatent 1 3,461,628 THERMOPLASTIC ROOF SHINGLES Michael Wienand,Siegburg, and Franz Primessing, Mondorf, Germany, assignors to DynamitNobel Aktiengesellschaft, Troisdorf, Germany v Filed Nov. 25, 1966, Ser.No. 596,877 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 26, 1965,

US. Cl. 52-309 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE The present disclosureis directed to thermoplastic roof shingles having a particularconstruction. The shingles are bent toward one side in a hook-likemanner in the region of two adjacent edges, whilea hook is also providedin the region of the other two edges by means of a marginal striprunning along the entire length of the edges in the marginal Zone of theshingle. Accordingly, the shingles may be interconnected by means oftheir hooks with. the marginal strip of adjacent shingles. The shinglesalso have truncated edges at the corners adjacent to the corner zonecontaining a nail hole or the like. The crack between the truncatedsides when the shingles are laid may be sealed oh by means of cornerWedges having a construction as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to roofing and, inparticular, roof shingles made of thermoplastic synthetic material andhaving a particular construction.

Plate-shaped square roof shingles made of synthetic material have beenused as roofing in the prior art. One embodiment thereof involves havingthese shingles formed into hooks along two adjacent edges, facing in onedirection, and in the region of the other two adjacent edges, facing inthe opposite direction, The width of these hooks is dimensioned suchthat the roof shingle can be interconnected by means of the free leg ofthe hooks with the hooks of additional adjacent roof shingles having theidentical construction. Provision is made that these roof shingles aremounted, by means of a nail or the like, with one of their corners in asuspension arrangement on a support, for example, a wooden roof lath. r

Experimental laying arrangements of such square synthetic resin roofshingles have shown that. these shingles are definitely equivalent tothe conventional roof tiles with respect to their quality andsuitability. However, there is the drawback with such shingles that withroofs having a very minor slope or inclination it is quite possible thatwhen rain water is pressed upwardly on the roof by strong winds and bycapillary action this rain water can penetrate through the nail holes tothe inner side of the roof. This can happen even though the nail holesare covered on the outside of the roof.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provideroof shingles which overcome the disadvantages and deficiencies of theprior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide roof shingles which may beused to construct a roof which is virtually impermeable to rain water,even under adverse conditions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide advantageousroof shingles made of a thermoplastic material which may be constructedadvantageously and efficaciously in an economical manner.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of thefollowing specification, drawings and claims.

SUMMARY on THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, aroofing is provided which is characterized by the use of a substantiallysquare, plate-shaped roof shingle. This shingle is bent toward one sidein the manner of a hook in the region of two adjacent edges, while ahook is also provided in the region of the other'two edges by means of amarginal strip which is flat along the entire length of the edges in themarginal zone of the shingle. The marginal strip may also be attached ata spacing from the edges in a straight line by means of gluing, weldingor the like so that it firmly and tightly adheres thereto. This marginalstrip is offset in a step-wise manner in a direction at right angles toits longitudinal extension at about the center area thereof. In thecorner zone of the latter two mentioned edges (containing said marginalstrip), a nail hole or the like may be provided, if desired, within theconnecting surface or outside of the connection line of the marginalstrip. A further feature of the shingle construction of the presentinvention is that the shingle plate is truncated or blunted at thecorners positioned on both sides of the diagonal visualized as emanatingfrom the corner zone containing the nail hole or the like in a parallelrelationship to said diagonal.

When the roof shingles of the present invention are laid, it is possiblethat small cracks will be present between adjacent shingles in the areaof the corners formed by four shingles. Through these cracks, at extremeconditions, i.e., with a very minor roof slope and a very strong wind,rain water could be pressed toward the inside of the roof. In order tofully satisfy even such extreme conditions, there is provided, accordingto a further embodiment of the present invention, the additional use ofthinwalled corner wedges (gussets). These corner wedges are smallcompared with the size of the roof shingles and are substantiallysquare. They have an upper layer extending across three quadrants and alower layer of identical form but oppositely arranged, the two outerquadrants thereof, however, being congruent with those of the upperlayer. The corner wedges also have an intermediate layer extendingacross the congruent quadrants of the upper and lower layer. Theintermediate layer is connected with the upper layer along the edgesformed by the recess of the fourth quadrant by means of a web portion ora fillet having a height corresponding substantially to the thickness ofthe roof shingle plates or slabs, or of a height which is only slightlylarger than this thickness. The intermediate layer is also connectedwith the lower layer along the edges formed by the recess of the fourthquadrant by means of a web portion or a fillet having a heightcorresponding to three times the thickness of the roof shingle plates,or only slightly larger.

Experiments carried out in connection with roofs laid for testingpurposes have yielded the result that the roofing of the presentinvention, using the described roof shingles and the corner wedgestogether therewith, ensures a complete water tightness of the roof at aroof slope of only 5 and at a wind velocity of almost 70 km./h. With aroof slope of 10, these roofs show a complete water tightness even at awind velocity of km./h.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be furtherillustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a plot of roof slope against wind velocity for variousroof constructions. This plot indicates the limits within which theroofing remains tight, in dependence upon the roof slope and windvelocity, with a constant supply of Water at a rate of 50 liters persquare meter per minute; As can be seen therefrom, roofing made fromprior art polyvinyl chloride roof shingles, for example, according toGerman utility model 1,883,161 ensures complete 'water-tightnessonly upto a wind velocity of about 45 km./h. when the slope of the roof is At aroof slope of such a roof shows complete water tightness only up to awind velocity of about 55 km./h.

Even less favorable is the situation wherein conventional flat rooftiles are employed. A roof made of this material retains its watertightness, with or without the insertion of sealing means, only up to awind velocity of about 53 km./h. at a 10 roof slope.

' FIGURES 2(2- and 2b show a fiat roof shingle, in accordance with thepresent invention, having a nail hole, in a plan view and in a sectionalview, respectively.

FIGURES 3a and 3b show, in the same manner, a detailed view of FIGURES2a and 2b, namely, a corner formed from three roof shingles according toFIGURE 2a.

FIGURES 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d show a corner wedge, in accordance with thepresent invention, in various views.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the engagement of the roof shingles of the presentinvention and the corner wedge, in a detailed view.

FIGURE 6 shows, in a further detailed view, a schematic illustration ofa few laid roof shingles with corner wedges.

FIGURE 7 shows a section through a connecting corner along line A-B ofFIGURE 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGURES 2a and 2b,a roof shingle is formed from a thin fiat plate 1. This plate is bent toform hook 2 along its two lower edges toward one single side. Of course,the hook could also be formed by using a special part therefor. Alongthe other two edges on the other side of the plate 1, the marginal strip3 is applied by gluing, welding or the like. As can be seen from FIG-URE 2b, the marginal strip 3 is offset step-wise at about the centerportion thereof by an amount corresponding to its thickness, or a littlelarger. The connection between the plate 1 and the marginal strip 3 canbe effected along the entire surface of the external part of themarginal strip 3 which is resting, according to FIGURE 21), on plate 1.Or, this connection can be effected only along a line extending close tothe step-like shoulder. A nail hole 4 may be provided in the uppercorner of the shingle. The nail hole extends through the plate 1 andmarginal strip 3. As a further feature of the construction of thisshingle, the two lateral corners thereof are truncated in a lineparallel to a diagonal visualized as emanating from the corner havingthe nail hole 4.

FIGURES 3a and 3b show three identical roof shingles having theconstruction of the present invention combined in the manner necessaryfor laying the same in a finished roof. The two upper roof shingles, asshown in FIGURE 3b, are engaged by means of their hooks 2 in themarginal strip 3 of the lower roof shingle. The crack 5 present betweenthe two upper roof shingles can be sealed off by means of the cornerwedges 6 (illustrated in FIG- URES 4a-4c in the manner shown in FIGURE5. In doing this, the corner wedge 6, illustrated at the bottom ofFIGURE 5, wherein its configuration can clearly be seen, is pushed intothe corner formed by the three combined roof shingles until the wedgeabuts the same before the fourth roof shingle is interconnected, thelatter being shown at the top of FIGURE 5. Thereafter, the fourth roofshingle is hooked or hung with its hook-shaped edge into the marginalstrip 3 of the two lateral roof shingles. This then terminates the rooflaying operation.

As can be seen from FIGURES 4 and 5, the upper layer 8 extending acrossthree quadrants is connected with the intermediate layer 9 along the twoedges 10 and 11 by means of the webs 12. The intermediate layer 9 isconnected with the lower layer 13, again extending across threequadrants, along the two edges 14 and 15 by means 'of webs 16. Theheight of webs 12, in this connection,

corresponds to at least once, times the thickness of the plate 1. Theheight of the webs 16 corresponds to at least three times the thicknessof plate 1. In practice, the corner wedge 6 can, of course, beconstructed of one pice without any difiiculty. However, it is alsopossible to compose this wedge of several parts.

As can be seen from FIGURE 6, a smooth outside surface is provided withthe finished laid roof. By outside surface, of course, is meant thevisible surface exposed to the elements. The nail holes are alsoadvantageously covered on the outside surface.

The manner in which the individual parts engage one another in a corneris fully illustrated in FIGURE 7. The bold line in this figure indicatesthat a completely tight seal is established between the individualinterlocking roof shingles.

Within the scope of the roofing according to the present invention, whenemploying the principle underlying the construction of the roofshingles, it is possible to provide numerous specific constructions forthe roof shingles, for example, for passing antennae, ventilating means,etc. therethrough. These specific constructions are to be consideredwithin the scope of the present invention.

The roof shingles of the present invention are advantageouslyconstructed of a thermoplastic material, such as, for example, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethanes, polyethylene,polypropylene, etc. Polyvinyl chloride .is the preferred thermoplasticmaterial.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A substantially square roof shingle made of a thermoplastic material,said shingle having a hook-like bend in the region of two adjacent edgestoward one side thereof and having a corresponding hook-like shape inthe region of the other two edges in the direction of opposite sidethereof, the latter hook-like shape being provided by a continuousmarginal strip which is fiat along the entire length of the edges uponwhich it is disposed and is firmly and tightly adherent thereto, saidmarginal strip being offset in a step wise manner in a direction atright angles to its longitudinal extension at about the center thereof,and said shingle being truncated at the corners positioned on both sidesof the diagonal visualized as emanating from one of the other cornersthereof in a parallel relationship to said diagonal, wherein a cornerzone between the two edges containing said marginal strip and spacedoutwardly of the offset portion is provided with a mounting area.

2. A roof shingle according to claim 1, wherein said marginal strip isattached in a straight line at a spacing in from the edges upon which itis disposed.

3. A roof shingle according to claim 1, wherein said mounting areaincludes a nail hole.

4. A roof shingle according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplasticmaterial is polyvinyl chloride.

5. A corner-wedge roof shingle made of a thermoplastic material, saidshingle having a upper layer extending across three quadrants, a lowerlayer, identical and opposite to said upper layer and congruent with theouter two of said three quadrants occupied by said upper layer, and anintermediate layer extending across said outer two of said threequadrants, said intermediate layer being connected to said upper layerby a first web portion at the edges of said upper layer formed by therecess of the fourth quadrant, said intermediate layer being connectedalso to said lower layer by a second web portion at the edges of saidlower layer formed by the recess of the fourth quadrant.

6. A corner-wedge shingle according to claim 5, Wherein said second webportion has a height approximately three times the height of said firstweb portion.

7. A corner-wedge shingle according to claim 6, wherein said first webportion has a height slightly greater than the thickness of a roofshingle adjacent to said cornerwedge shingle.

8. Roofing comprising, in combination, a plurality of shingles made of athermoplastic material, each of said shingles having a hook-like bend inthe region of two adjacent edges toward one side thereof and having acorresponding hook-like shape in the region of the other two edges inthe direction of the opposite side thereof, the latter hook-like shapebeing provided by a continuous marginal strip which is flat along theentire length of the edges upon which it is disposed and is firmly andtightly adherent thereto, said marginal strip being offset in a stepwisemanner in a direction at right angles to its longitudinal extension atabout the center thereof, a corner zone between the two edges containingsaid marginal strip and spaced outwardly of the offset portion beingprovided with a mounting area, and said shingle being truncated at thecorners positioned on both sides of the diagonal visualized as emanatingfrom one of the other corners thereof in a parallel relationship to saiddiagonal.

9. Roofing according to claim 8, wherein said mounting area includes anail hole.

10. Roofing according to claim 8, further comprising at least onecorner-wedge shingle having an upper layer extending across threequadrants, a lower layer, identical and opposite to said upper layer andcongruent with the outer two of said three quadrants occupied by saidupper layer, and an intermediate layer extending across said outer twoof said three quadrants, said intermediate layer being connected to saidupper layer by a first web portion at the edges of said upper layerformed by the re=- cess of the fourth quadrant, said intermediate layerbeing connected also to said lower layer by a second web portion at theedges of said lower layer formed by the recess of the fourth quadrant,wherein adjacent shingles are interconnected with one another by theengagement of said hook-like portion of one shingle with said marginalstrip of the adjacent shingle, said corner-wedge shingle being wedgedinto the corner formed by three abutting shingles and a fourth shinglebeing interconnected to two of said three shingles, disposed laterallyand above said fourth shingle, by the engagement of the hook-likeportion of said fourth shingle with the marginal strip portions of saidtwo laterally disposed shingles.

11. Roofing according to claim 10, wherein the corner zone between thetwo edges containing said marginal strip of each of said shingles isprovided with a nail hole.

12. Roofing according to claim 10, wherein said first web portion has aheight slightly greater than the thickness of the roof shingle adjacentto said corner-wedge shingle and said second web portion has a heightapproximately three times the height of said first web portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 558,395 4/1896 Krebs 525302,824,527 2/1958 Waske 52530 2,601,833 7/1952 Olsen 52530 X 3,101,5718/1963 Waske 52547 X 3,214,876 11/1965 Mattes 52520 FOREIGN PATENTS427,360 5/1911 France. 509,081 10/1920 France.

JOHN E. MURTAGl-l, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-521, 531, 551

